Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028 – Research Fellowships and PhD Scholarships

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships promote international academic exchange and research collaboration between Switzerland and other countries.

For South African applicants, the 2027–2028 programme offers two scholarship categories: Research Fellowships for candidates already pursuing doctoral studies outside Switzerland who wish to conduct a research project in Switzerland, and PhD Scholarships for candidates intending to pursue a doctorate at a Swiss university or recognised research institute.

The Research Fellowship lasts between six and twelve months, without extension. The PhD Scholarship can run for up to 36 months, subject to academic progress and renewal requirements.

Both categories provide CHF 2,450 per month towards basic living expenses. Additional benefits include compulsory health insurance for eligible non-EU/EFTA recipients, a one-time CHF 600 rental deposit contribution, a Half-Fare Travelcard and a return-flight allowance.

Successful applicants must undertake full-time research or doctoral studies in Switzerland.

Scholarship holders must comply with the requirements of their host institution and the Federal Commission for Scholarships.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Must apply using an eligible South African nationality/passport.

Must have been born after 31 December 1991.

Must hold a Master's degree or equivalent, completed by 31 July 2027. For ETH Zurich, the deadline is 30 June 2027.

Must submit a detailed research proposal with a timeline and research milestones.

Must secure a letter of support from an academic supervisor at a Swiss higher education institution.

Must provide the required academic records and supporting documents.

Must undertake full-time research or doctoral studies in Switzerland.

Applicants who have already received a Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship are not eligible.

Applicants who have already lived, studied or worked in Switzerland for more than 13 months before the scholarship begins are excluded.

For Research Fellowships, applicants must already be pursuing a PhD outside Switzerland and intend to conduct a research project as part of their doctoral studies.

For PhD Scholarships, applicants must intend to pursue a full doctoral qualification at an eligible Swiss institution.

Important: South Africa is listed for Research Fellowships and PhD Scholarships only. The Art Scholarship category is not available to South African applicants.

Required qualifications

A completed Master's degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant academic discipline is required.

The programme accepts research proposals across academic disciplines, provided the proposed research is suitable for the selected Swiss institution and academic supervisor.

No general employment experience requirement is specified. Applicants are assessed on their academic qualifications, research profile, research proposal and suitability for the proposed project.

Applicants should prepare the following:

Complete academic CV.

Motivation letter of no more than two pages.

Detailed research proposal using the official FCS/ESKAS form, maximum five pages including a non-specialist summary.

Letter of support from a Swiss academic supervisor.

Short CV of the Swiss academic supervisor.

Short CV of the academic supervisor at the applicant's home university, where required.

Copies of previous university certificates and academic transcripts.

Copy of valid passport.

Email addresses of two professors in the relevant academic field for recommendation letters.

Swiss doctoral-school admission confirmation, where applying through a doctoral school that requires admission before application.

Documents not in English, French, Italian or German must be accompanied by certified translations.

Applications must be submitted online through the official Grants Online (GO ESKAS) portal.

Check the eligibility criteria and confirm that South Africa offers the scholarship category you intend to apply for.

Identify a suitable Swiss university or recognised research institution.

Find an academic supervisor in Switzerland who is willing to support and supervise your research.

Prepare your research proposal, CV, motivation letter and supporting academic documents.

Register on the GO ESKAS portal.

Complete the online application and upload the required documents.

Submit your application before the country-specific deadline.

Applications submitted by email or in paper form are not accepted. Applicants must not submit multiple simultaneous applications for different host universities or scholarship types.